Election 2021: Parsippany Township Council Candidate Debbie Orme

PARSIPPANY, NJ — In just a few days, the first wave in election season 2021 reaches the Garden State and Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the June 8 primary election.

Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will get published between now and the primary election.

Here is the response from Parsippany Township Council candidate Debbie Orne.

Name: Debbie Orme
Age: 58
Town of residence: Parsippany Troy Hills
Position sought: Town Council
Party affiliation: Republican
Family: Husband Joe, 4 children and 3 grandchildren

Education: NJ Insurance Producers License, some College

Occupation: Licensed NJ Insurance Account Manager

Previous or current elected appointed office: Parsippany Board of Education approaching 9 years

Why are you seeking elective office?

Service to our community has always been a priority for me and it is apparent that we need elected officials who value their opportunity to serve and who will represent our community’s interests. I believe myself and our team are best able to do that. Township growth is inevitable and my experience understanding how development and growth impacts our school district and our quality of life, and being a fiscal conservative, best position me to be able to make smart and practical decisions about what Parsippany needs and wants. Let’s move forward in a smart, organized, streamlined manner for the benefit of our entire community and I believe Jamie Barberio, Frank Neglia and I have the experience and ability to get that done.

The single most pressing issue facing us is recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you intend to do about it?

I plan to support the needs of our local businesses and Township residents by ensuring they have whatever resources we on the Council level are able to provide while making them readily available and easily accessible. We need to always provide easy access to information and available resources to help promote their success.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I’ve been blessed to have lived in Parsippany for nearly my entire life and to have served our community on so many levels and in so many capacities over the years, getting to know our community members, their needs, their desires for our Town and their vision of the future which provides myself, and my running mates with Parsippany rooted and focused experience that sets us apart from others. From the ground level up so to say, I have worked side by side with my neighbors on local organizations, youth groups, town wide projects and in service roles for the benefit of our community for decades. I bring with me the perspective of having been a resident, property owner, business owner, student, parent, volunteer and elected official and I would be honored to continue the opportunity to serve Parsippany on our Town Council.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Having successfully been elected three times and appointed to serve on our Board of Education for nearly 9 years, I’ve had a great deal of experience understanding and managing a very large public budget. I also helped to successfully negotiate seven mutually beneficial and fiscally responsible contracts with four separate collective bargaining groups. I’ve served in a variety of professional and volunteer leadership roles over the years which have provided me the opportunity to work with and manage unique personalities and ideas to produce some great outcomes and successes. These varied experiences through service over the years definitely puts me in the best position to help guide our town through both the unique circumstances of today, as well as getting the basic business of the Town accomplished efficiently

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Be kind always and take time to listen first, talk later